Humidifier



Filed Feb- 23' Mw. 0 7 E W M N W), M Mm M b x i W 6 W5 l W w f w R I .f EM JD. Mbs/ H .W Y IVW/WHMHN r wvl u l L. MJ f IIL v mi nw. x FW.. -5-- #E -5 HMFIIIIL H. HU M www www

Patented 'pr. 2l, 1931 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER Application led February 23, 1929. Serial No. 342,088.

My invention relates to humidifying devices and especially to himidiiers adapted for use in connection with heating systems i for humidifyin the air in a' room or building. This app ication is a continuation in part of my application entitled Humidifier S. N. 262,531, led March V17th, 1928, for all subject matter common to both applications. In addition to the combinations and structure set forth in my said pending application, my present invention comprises several new improvements which increase the efciency of the device.

It is an object of my invention to provlde a comparatively simple but highly efiicient humidifier adapted to be used in connection with a heating system and having a 'high evaporative capacity and adapted to be installed above the floor of a room or building.

It is a further object to provide a humidifier for buildings wherein a flue is provided havin therein a heating element and having an o set leg wherein a nozzle is mounted directing a tine spray of liquid toward the main portion of said flue to assist in setting up a swift current of air through said flue, said offset leg being connected with said main portion in such a manner as to cause said current of air to rotate or swirl rapidly as it passes throu h the main portion of sald iiue. Another object is to provide in a device of the class described, means for heating the air and moisture as it passes through said iiue and for also heating the water or liquid before it is discharged from said nozzle.

Still a further obJect is to provide a device of the class described, wherein a fan is provided for operatin the device at. greatest efiiciency, but whereln the device may have a 4 considerable evaporative capacity when the fan is not in use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description ma e in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which,

Fi 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinal y through anembodiment of my invention, installed in connection with a raf diator;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the radiator in pla-n; Fig, 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the radiator and lower-portion of my flue, some portions of the ornamental casing' being broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through an embodiment of my invention connected with the lead and return pipes of a circulating heating system.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, an embodiment of my device is applied to a radiator R of the usual type which may be connected witheither a hot water, vapor or steam heating system.

A vertical flue 5 of circular cross section is suitably supported at one end of the radiator R and communicates at its lower end with an oiset or angularly disposed leg 6. Leg 6 is of oblong cross section, and as shown has a horizontal lower portion and an elongated inclined upper portion communicating eccentrically or substantially tangentially with the lower end of flue 5. The width of leg 6 is comparatively small relatively toits height. An air intake passage 6a is provided in the lower end of leg 6, disposed a short distance above the bottom thereof, saidl bottom with the rear wall wherein said intake passa e is formed, constituting a drain chamber w ich is provided with a drain pipe 7 A relatively small conduit 8, connected with the household water supply or a suitable source of liquid under pressure, is provided, having therein a regulating valve 9, said pipe, as shown, extending u' wardly and connecting with the upper en of a small helical heating coil 10. Coil 10 for compactness in the structure, may be conveniently disposed in inclined position above the upper portion of leg 6, and has its lowe'x` end connected with a conduit 8a, which extends into the lower extremity of leg 6 and terminates in a nozzle 11 positioned substantially centrally of the inclined portion of leg 6 and adapted to dischar e a linely divided spray of li uid toward t e opening in the cylindrica flue 5. A cylindrical heater casing leg 6, preferably at alpoint 10a of somewhat greater diameter than helical coil 10, surrounds said heating coil and the lower end of said casing is connected by a conduit 12 to one end of the radiator R.

A helical heating coil 13 is mounted Within and concentric with c lindrical flue 5 and the uer end of said eating coil is connecte y a short conduit 13a to the upper end of .heater casing 10a. The lower en of heating coil 13 is connected to the opposite and hotter end of radiator R.

A force fan 14 of suitable ty e is mounted on a support 14a at the end oi) the radiator op osite fromflue 5 and has its discharge en communicating' with the lower end of slightly above the air intake passage 6a. Fan 14 is connected in conventional manner (not shown) to a source of electricity.

As shown, Hue 5 -is lined with some absorbent material having capillary attraction, said lining extending substantially throughout the entire length thereof. An inverted conical screen 15 1s concentrically mountedy wfithin heating coil 13 at the upper end there-i o Anornamental rectangular casing 16 houses the radiator and the several parts of my device previously described, said casing, as shown being supported upon the floor and having reticulated side and front portions and a reticulated top.

A form of the invention is illustrated-in- Fig. 4 substantially similar to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, with the exception that the lower end of the heating coil 13, disposed within cylindrical flue' 5, is connected to the le'ad pipe 18 of a hot water, steam or vapor heating system, while the lower end of heater casing 10a is connected by a conduit 19 with the return pi 20 of said heating system. As shown in igs. 4, the ornamental casing covering my device has an inclined top portion. l

The operation of my humidifier may be briey summarized as follows A circulation of a hot heatingfluid is set up through the heating coil 13 and through heater casing 10a, returning in the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, to the colder side of the radiator, and in the device shown in Fig. 4, to the return pipe 2O of the heatin system. Water regulating valve 9 is opene to cause a fine conical spray of water to be directed toward the lower end of flue 5, said s ray substantially lling the narrow leg 6. e force of said spray is suxiiicientof itself to set up or induce a strong circulation of air through intake passage 6a and through leg 6 and flue 5. The circulation may, of course, be accelerated by the use of fan 14. 'The entering air commingles with the finely divided spray from nozzle 11 and the air and 'moisture move upwardly through flue 5 with a rapid swirling motion. 'This rapid swirling fan 14, but

- ated. The forced circulation of ,siderable amount of water,

motion throws the larger and unevaporated particles of moisture against the sides of the iue 5 and against the hot helical coil `13 thereby preventing an excess of unevaporated moisture from bein delivered from the upper end of the ue. aid swirling movement moreover slows up the passage of the air and moisture suiliciently to cause an eilicient humidiication at a relatively high temperature. The hot helical coil 13 raises the temperature of the air and moisture, thereby tly increasing the evaporative capacity of said air. The inverted conical screen 15 which is heated to a relatively high temperature by coil 13 assists in catching particles of water and prevents excess of unevaporated water from being expelled outwardly through the delivery end of flue'5. This screenalso holds a considerable amount of .moisture and the air passing therethrough causes much of this moisture to be evaporated in the deliveryof air through the upper portion of the enclosed space within ornamental casing 16. Casing 16 is so reticulated at its top, end and front, that the moist air delivered therein is placed under pressure, causing 'a substantially even delivery of the air from said casing.

It will be further seen that the water discharged from nozzle 11 is heated by its assage through the restricted heating coi 10 disposed in heater casing 10a and will, therefore, atomize eiliciently when discharged. This discharge of warm water serves to warm the air to some extent before passage of air and moisture over the heating coil 13, thereby greatly increasing the evaporative caacit and eliciency of my device. I have foun that cold water cannot be satisfactorily atomized by a nozzle and will otherwise greatly lessen the humidification, since the evaporative capacity of air increases progressively with the temperature.

The absorbent lining X within flue 5 acts as a wickV maintaining a supply of moisture throughout the entire length of flue 5, and the swirlin motion of the air over said wick causes additional moisture to be evaporated and commin led with the air. The device has a high eiciency when used without the the circulation of air in the room, as well as the humidiication is accelerated by operating said fan. In hot weather, when, of course, the heating system is not in operation, my device has a high etliciency for cooling a room or building, if the fan is operair through the spray from the nozzle evaporates a conthereby absorbing heat and producing a fast circulation of cool air in the buildin l It will be obvious tat my device cleans and purifies the air as well as materially increases'the circulation of air in the room. The swirling motion of the air and moisture said Hue.

caused by the leg 6 communicating substantially tangentially with the Hue is responsible for a high evaporative and humidifying capacity and the addition ofthe means connected `to heating coil for preheating the water discharged is also another important factor in the eiiiciency of my device.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention.

What is claimed is: Y

l. i In a humidifier, a Hue provided with an oHset leg communicating substantially-tangentially with said Hue, a source of water supply within said leg, and means for setting up a'circulation of air through said Hue, whereby said tangential communication of said leg 'with said Huewill produce a swirlin motion on said air in its passage through 2. In a humidifier, a cylindrical flue having an oHset `leg communicating with one l end thereof, said leg having a substantially tangential connection with said Hue, an air intake passage 1n the outer end of said leg,

and a nozzle connected with a source of liquid supply under pressure adapted to direct a fine spray in the direction of said Hue.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2', and a heating element in said Hue.

4. In a humidifier comprising an upwardly extending Hue having a laterally extending leg communicating with the lower portion thereof, a water supply pipe extending into said leg, and terminating in a nozzle, said nozzle being adapted to'direct a line spray of water toward the juncture of said ,leg and Hue, an air intake passage at the rear end of said leg, the force of said spray setting up an induced circulation of air through said spray and said Hue, a heating zle will set up an induced circulation of air through said leg and Hue, said air circulation passing through said heating unit and over the surface of said wick.

7. In a humidifier, a Hue provided with Van offset leg communicating substantially tangentially with said Hue, means for providing a Hnely dividedspray of water to said leg and means for setting up a circulation of air through said'leg and said Hue whereby said tangential communication of said leg will produce a swirling motion on said air in its passage through said Hue.

8. lIn a humidifier, a Hue provided with an offset leg communicating substantially tagentially with-said Hue, a source of moisture in said leg, means for setting up a circulation of air through said leg and said Hue and a spiral heating coil disposed longitudinally in said Hue and adapted to cooperate with the tangential connection of s'aid leg and Hue to producea swirling motion on said air in its passage through said Hue.

In testimony whereof I afHx my signature.

EDWARD D. NORTON.

coil connected with a cirdulating heating I system and disposed in said Hue above said juncture and 'a fine meshed Hlter constructed of heat conductive material disposed in the upper portion of said Hue adapted to dis'- integrate small particles of water and to yprevent delivery of larger particles 5. A humidifier comprising an upwardly extending Hue having an inclined legV communicating with the lower portion thereof, a water supply pipe having a nozzle adapted to direct a Hne spray of water through said leg in the direction of the juncture of said leg with said Hue, a drain chamber at the vlower end of said leg, a heating unit mounted in said Hue above said juncture and connected `with a radiator, an intake opening in the lower end of said leg, whereby said spray will set up an induced circulation of air through said leg and said Hue and an inverted funnel-shaped screen in the upper portion of said Hue. 

